Shift+Tab: Mac Gamers Are Not a Lie

[Delusibeta]

[small]Occasionally, Delusibeta feels the urge to get on his soapbox and rant. These articles, named Shift+Tab after the default shortcut to activate the Steam overlay, are these rants. And yes, there may be something about consoles if I feel like it.[/small]

So today was the release of another batch of games for Steam for Mac, notably, Killing Floor and Sam & Max Season 2. But I'm not going to talk about that, but the associated news article, [http://store.steampowered.com/news/3837/] which drops a few hints at May 2010's Steam Hardware Survey. The most interesting statistic of all is:

And one week after launch, already more than eleven percent of all Steam purchases are for the Mac.

Now, of course this could be just a launch spike, as Mac gamers get their fill, but considering that, at the time of typing, Football Manager 2010, a Steam Play game, has more players than Team Fortress 2, which has yet to get a Mac version, it's impressive.

"But what about the free Portal?" I hear you cry. "Wouldn't that screw up the statistics?". Perhaps, considering it's reached 1.5 million downloads. However, it isn't permitted for the Top Sellers list, and Killing Floor is the highest individual game, second only to the Sega package deal, which is impressive and confirms that Mac gamers are out there and willing to spend money.

Of course, we mustn't forget the (now finished) Humble Indie Bundle. [http://www.wolfire.com/humble] Of all the revenue raised, a little under a quarter is represented by
Mac gamers. Of course, this isn't guaranteed to be completely accurate: you could choose which format you wanted to represent. But the proportion of Mac gamers seems to be representing themselves in Steam.

There are two big questions that need to be answered. The first is "Are there any Mac gamers?", and the answer to that is already clear: yes, there are. However, the second question "Is it worthwhile to port my PC game to Mac?" has yet to get a clear answer, since Killing Floor's success may be just a result of the novelty of Steam on Mac. However, if similar successes occur in the months and years ahead, it may result in the majority of PC games becoming ported to Macs instead of the small minority that are ported now. Is this a good thing? Perhaps, but it would be a definite fillip for OpenGL, which would encourage both DirectX and OpenGL to improve faster and better, which would result in better looking and running games for all. And that would be a definite plus in all this.

Spoiler: The Delusibeta Archives

Shift+Tab: Mac Gamers Are Not a Lie [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.196046-Shift-Tab-Mac-Gamers-Are-Not-a-Lie]

 

[psivamp]

OpenGL works to improve all the time. Sorry, I'm a proponent of open source and community-driven software. And no one attempts to use OpenGL to leverage you into buying the next incremental upgrade to a crappy OS. But here's an exhortation to developers to use OGL instead of DX:

http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/01/Why-you-should-use-OpenGL-and-not-DirectX

 

[Delusibeta]

OpenGL works to improve all the time. Sorry, I'm a proponent of open source and community-driven software. And no one attempts to use OpenGL to leverage you into buying the next incremental upgrade to a crappy OS. But here's an exhortation to developers to use OGL instead of DX:

http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/01/Why-you-should-use-OpenGL-and-not-DirectX

I realise that, but right now not many PC games use OpenGL. If Steam for Mac proves to be sucessful and encourages the Mac gaming market, I expect more PC games to use OpenGL and then we'll have more competition between the two standards, and that means more improvements, faster.

 

[spinFX]

They are still a lie. Not many mainstream games make it to Mac and the uptake on them, well I doubt it is worth it, hence why.... Not many mainstream games make it to Mac. I sense a loop coming!

 

[Delusibeta]

They are still a lie. Not many mainstream games make it to Mac and the uptake on them, well I doubt it is worth it, hence why.... Not many mainstream games make it to Mac. I sense a loop coming!

The problem with that argument is that Valve will be supplying their mainstream games to the Mac market. This thread is probably six months too soon, but if the Mac version of Valve's games has a large uptake, I expect EA, Activision et al. to take note.

 

[psivamp]

If Steam for Mac proves to be sucessful and encourages the Mac gaming market, I expect more PC games to use OpenGL and then we'll have more competition between the two standards, and that means more improvements, faster.

I'm not sure you understand the MS mindset. OpenGL is usually ahead of DirectX in functionality. MS doesn't really see itself as a normal market force in competition with other products. It can't enter into a contract with the writers of OGL, steal their code and put them out of business, so it would have to fight essentially fairly -- not exactly the MS way.

They are still a lie. Not many mainstream games make it to Mac and the uptake on them, well I doubt it is worth it, hence why.... Not many mainstream games make it to Mac. I sense a loop coming!

No, not many games make it to Mac, or linux (yes, yes, I'm fully aware Mac is a recognized proprietary GNU POSIX-compliant version of linux running a proprietary windowing system). Anyway, gamers and games exist on both Mac and linux. Do they make up a significant marketshare, probably not, but if Steam for Mac helps swing that a bit, I'm all for it.

 

[Doug]

OpenGL works to improve all the time. Sorry, I'm a proponent of open source and community-driven software. And no one attempts to use OpenGL to leverage you into buying the next incremental upgrade to a crappy OS. But here's an exhortation to developers to use OGL instead of DX:

http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/01/Why-you-should-use-OpenGL-and-not-DirectX

Having attempted to use community driven software from a developer point of view in an industry environment, I can tell you that the big problem with them is the poor quality or simply missing documentation that seems to be the hallmark of most 'Open Source' software (and I use the quotes because its usually so opaque that its only open and understandable to someone to devotes months of work into understanding it or the original coders).

That said, I have tried OpenGL and SDL as an 'end user' of the platforms, and they both where easy enough to use - but then again, I wasn't using them to develop a full game with a large sum of money riding on the outcome of the project.

 

[psivamp]

OpenGL works to improve all the time. Sorry, I'm a proponent of open source and community-driven software. And no one attempts to use OpenGL to leverage you into buying the next incremental upgrade to a crappy OS. But here's an exhortation to developers to use OGL instead of DX:

http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/01/Why-you-should-use-OpenGL-and-not-DirectX

Having attempted to use community driven software from a developer point of view in an industry environment, I can tell you that the big problem with them is the poor quality or simply missing documentation that seems to be the hallmark of most 'Open Source' software (and I use the quotes because its usually so opaque that its only open and understandable to someone to devotes months of work into understanding it or the original coders).

That said, I have tried OpenGL and SDL as an 'end user' of the platforms, and they both where easy enough to use - but then again, I wasn't using them to develop a full game with a large sum of money riding on the outcome of the project.

The majority of software is crap. So, naturally, the majority of open-source software is also crap. Obviously, there are exceptions or we'd still be back in the late-80s with lone-wolf coders doing everything and the Russians running Windows 3.11 modded to the eyeballs. The thing is, most games don't run on an original engine. The switch to OGL and SDL vice DX would mostly be done for the end developer by Epic and Crytek writing the appropriate renderers for their engines. I'm a linux geek who has gotten lazy. I'm running Mac right now, although both Windows and linux are both on the MacBook and I have dev tools for all three OSes installed.

[rant]
Which reminds me: why is everyone attacking devs? MS is charging an arm and a leg to registered MSDN members (programming professionals) for Visual Studio 2010 and Apple is threatening to ban people for using automated tools to help port software to the iPhone OS. What the crap! Developers are the lifeblood of these systems. If you shit on the people who make the software, there won't be software for your platform.
[/rant]

 

[Jofrak]

confirms that Mac gamers are out there and willing to spend money.

Just to highlight on this little bit initially. Of course with the revelation that mac gamers do exist we already knew they were willing to spend money .... they did buy a mac in the first place.

Back on topic.
Going for an all in guess how many sweets in the jar, of the massive jar of non-console gamers, and by this I mean those that prefer gaming on a computer over a console, there are only going to be a fairly small proportion, at the moment at least, that have gone and bought a mac over a PC.
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/more_people_use_apple_macs_than_you_think_8_12_percent_of_homes_use_macs/
Nice little link from macnews claiming ~10% of home users using macs, so a fairly small % in all.
PC's just 'made' more sense, and in my own opinion still do. A customisable rig, you know how it goes together, you know there are ample parts for it online with the only restrictions being imposed by the hardware you have put in yourself ... but yeh, like I said my opinion.

What gets me about this whole thing however is this (and in this I profess to have very little knowledge):
OpenGL - Usable on macs, pc's and Linux
Yet DirectX is only useable with windows? Surely mac being the open-source god of an OS that all mac users seem to claim it to be should have incorporated some sort of way of interpreting DirectX coding without having to boot up a windows OS on the side? As far as I'm aware it's relatively easy to grab a program to allow Windows games to run on Linux (which uses OpenGL too iirc) so why hasn't it been done on macs at any sort of scale?

 

[spinFX]

They are still a lie. Not many mainstream games make it to Mac and the uptake on them, well I doubt it is worth it, hence why.... Not many mainstream games make it to Mac. I sense a loop coming!

The problem with that argument is that Valve will be supplying their mainstream games to the Mac market. This thread is probably six months too soon, but if the Mac version of Valve's games has a large uptake, I expect EA, Activision et al. to take note.

So an extra few mainstream games destroys my argument does it? No.

My argument will be destroyed when I can no longer say that "Not many mainstream games make it to the Mac". I'll still be able to say it when Valve has some Max games ported.

 

[Doug]

[rant]
Which reminds me: why is everyone attacking devs? MS is charging an arm and a leg to registered MSDN members (programming professionals) for Visual Studio 2010 and Apple is threatening to ban people for using automated tools to help port software to the iPhone OS. What the crap! Developers are the lifeblood of these systems. If you shit on the people who make the software, there won't be software for your platform.
[/rant]

Erm, I didn't think I was. I'm a software engineer by trade myself, so I'm not likely to complain about them, heh. And you are perfectly correct - I get annoyed when people try and act like Apple/Mac have a morale high ground though, heh.

 

[psivamp]

What gets me about this whole thing however is this (and in this I profess to have very little knowledge):
OpenGL - Usable on macs, pc's and Linux
Yet DirectX is only useable with windows? Surely mac being the open-source god of an OS that all mac users seem to claim it to be should have incorporated some sort of way of interpreting DirectX coding without having to boot up a windows OS on the side? As far as I'm aware it's relatively easy to grab a program to allow Windows games to run on Linux (which uses OpenGL too iirc) so why hasn't it been done on macs at any sort of scale?

OpenGL is on EVERYTHING. Windows, linux, Mac, XBox, PS3, Wii, iPhone, droid... if it displays things in 3D chances are it can use the OGL API.

Mac's are based on linux, and therefore support the program Wine to an extent. Wine is a Windows emulator for *nix that among other things translates DX function calls to OGL or MesaGL(software) functions. Wine is tricky and incomplete largely because DX is closed-source and jealously guarded by MS. So, solutions exist, but they're imperfect, and any level of emulation or redirection takes processing power away from the game.

 

[psivamp]

[rant]
Which reminds me: why is everyone attacking devs? MS is charging an arm and a leg to registered MSDN members (programming professionals) for Visual Studio 2010 and Apple is threatening to ban people for using automated tools to help port software to the iPhone OS. What the crap! Developers are the lifeblood of these systems. If you shit on the people who make the software, there won't be software for your platform.
[/rant]

Erm, I didn't think I was. I'm a software engineer by trade myself, so I'm not likely to complain about them, heh. And you are perfectly correct - I get annoyed when people try and act like Apple/Mac have a morale high ground though, heh.

The rant isn't accusing people here of fucking with devs, it's about MS and Apple being stupid and messing with the people who write the software that runs on their stupid OSs. Apple in particular should be welcoming ports -- they should be fucking volunteering to help improve scripts that help port droid apps to the iPhone! Macs userbase is small and is generally the casual computing market (which is odd because you can get a cheaper Windows box to do that crap). IMO Apple should be scrambling to get any and all developers to write code for them. Open up more tools than just Objective-C based Xcode. Objective-C, really? WTF. It's MS all over again with C#. I want to write cross-platform code, but come on, to do that devs have to either reinvent the wheel or get a shiny one from a third-party...

Oh, crap... So, uh, yeah, I write code and this really bother me. Err, carry on...

 

[Jofrak]

OpenGL is on EVERYTHING. Windows, linux, Mac, XBox, PS3, Wii, iPhone, droid... if it displays things in 3D chances are it can use the OGL API.

Mac's are based on linux, and therefore support the program Wine to an extent. Wine is a Windows emulator for *nix that among other things translates DX function calls to OGL or MesaGL(software) functions. Wine is tricky and incomplete largely because DX is closed-source and jealously guarded by MS. So, solutions exist, but they're imperfect, and any level of emulation or redirection takes processing power away from the game.

It's the closed source fun of DX killing the ports then? Puts things once again squarely at the feet of MS for being a bunch of greedy so and so's. Honestly though, if bringing mac's into the fold stops dev's bringing out frustrating DRM, gets the non console releases on time and doesn't impact on the game quality (I've no idea why it would) then I'll buy my mac mates a pint ^.~

 

[Doug]

[rant]
Which reminds me: why is everyone attacking devs? MS is charging an arm and a leg to registered MSDN members (programming professionals) for Visual Studio 2010 and Apple is threatening to ban people for using automated tools to help port software to the iPhone OS. What the crap! Developers are the lifeblood of these systems. If you shit on the people who make the software, there won't be software for your platform.
[/rant]

Erm, I didn't think I was. I'm a software engineer by trade myself, so I'm not likely to complain about them, heh. And you are perfectly correct - I get annoyed when people try and act like Apple/Mac have a morale high ground though, heh.

The rant isn't accusing people here of fucking with devs, it's about MS and Apple being stupid and messing with the people who write the software that runs on their stupid OSs. Apple in particular should be welcoming ports -- they should be fucking volunteering to help improve scripts that help port droid apps to the iPhone! Macs userbase is small and is generally the casual computing market (which is odd because you can get a cheaper Windows box to do that crap). IMO Apple should be scrambling to get any and all developers to write code for them. Open up more tools than just Objective-C based Xcode. Objective-C, really? WTF. It's MS all over again with C#. I want to write cross-platform code, but come on, to do that devs have to either reinvent the wheel or get a shiny one from a third-party...

Oh, crap... So, uh, yeah, I write code and this really bother me. Err, carry on...

I do agree - as for why the Macs have a small, casual computing base, its because a) they have a good marketing department who sell the idea that Macs are cheaper and easier to use than PCs - which I suppose is true in the easier to use part because the Macs have pre-set hardware and are never custom builds. But then again, Windows isn't exactly rocket science either.

And this whole Objective-C nonsense really just made me want to smash my head in - they want everyone who develops for the iPhone and iPod touch to own a Mac? Seriously, thats just annoying.

 

[psivamp]

I do agree - as for why the Macs have a small, casual computing base, its because a) they have a good marketing department who sell the idea that Macs are cheaper and easier to use than PCs - which I suppose is true in the easier to use part because the Macs have pre-set hardware and are never custom builds. But then again, Windows isn't exactly rocket science either.

And this whole Objective-C nonsense really just made me want to smash my head in - they want everyone who develops for the iPhone and iPod touch to own a Mac? Seriously, thats just annoying.

Cheaper? Macs? My MacBook was a grand and it can't compete in specs with the Windows laptops. Apple makes their money on hardware, that's why Snow Leopard is about $30, but if you're just going to browse the internet, download torrents and watch movies you can do all that on a netbook for $300 or a desktop for less. The cheapest Mac is the Mini and it's a desktop the size of an old external HD: $600.

As for Objective-C, I don't want to learn it. I'd say at least it was a standard before Apple got to it, but it was part of NeXT, despite not being started under the eaves of Apple it was under the supervision of Jobs the whole time. I don't like proprietary languages. They change without warning, sometimes in ways that break existing code. And because they don't work on other platforms. In the end, it looks like I'm sticking to C/C++ and looking around for cross-platform tools to assist.

Aside: I don't hate Macs. Some stuff on Macs is cool, multitouch touchpads need to be on every laptop. Back to the hate: where the fuck are the rest of my keyboard keys on my MacBook? The actual 'Delete' key, Home, End, PgUp/Down, Insert, some kind of Fn mod to use NumPad...

 

[Doug]

Cheaper? Macs? My MacBook was a grand and it can't compete in specs with the Windows laptops. Apple makes their money on hardware, that's why Snow Leopard is about $30, but if you're just going to browse the internet, download torrents and watch movies you can do all that on a netbook for $300 or a desktop for less. The cheapest Mac is the Mini and it's a desktop the size of an old external HD: $600.

I said they have a good marketing department who sell the idea they are cheaper. Not that they are actually cheaper.

 

[psivamp]

I said they have a good marketing department who sell the idea they are cheaper. Not that they are actually cheaper.

My bad. Reread your post and you also stressed the easier thing, just kinda mentioned in passing that their marketing sold the idea of cheaper.

 

[Doug]

I said they have a good marketing department who sell the idea they are cheaper. Not that they are actually cheaper.

My bad. Reread your post and you also stressed the easier thing, just kinda mentioned in passing that their marketing sold the idea of cheaper.

No worries. OH, and their marketing department are good at convincing the guilable that 'PCs are dull and for work only whilst Macs are fun and exciting'... completely ignoring that there are hardly any games for the damn Macs, heh.